Rensselaer Republican, Volume 27, Number 44, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 July 1896 — Page 6

A CHARACTER. B« was always sayin’: “It'S atl for the best;’’ • Nd matter what fortune was bringin’, Bo did ‘Sfc-liat he could—left to heaven the rest. An* went on his pathway a-singin’l By day and by night—in the dark, in the .. . light— • .* r '. You’d find him' serene and contented; (The world, to his notion, was treatin’ him right. ( .< An’ his way with roses was scented. JHia life was a lesson all comfortin’ — sweet!. A life that was kind and forgivin’, Ter who, when the sharp thorns are piercin’ his feet, Can thank the good Lord that he’s livin'? But somet'imes I think the heart in ' the breast • L .la sick with its sorrow and grievin’, • If things never happen at all “for. the We can make ’em the best by believin’! •“Gttlanta Constitution.

THE FACE . AT THE WINDOW

During the last two years that I was ■t boarding school, taking art as an extra, I paid all my expenses by the ■ale of the familiar cyanotypes, of “blue prints." They were very popular among the girls, and the use of them In friezes or in other wall decorations became quite a fashion, so that I sometimes sold hundreds for a single room. Of course the choice of subjects was largely determined by my prospective purchasers, but there was a steady detnand for local landscapes, and a pleasant afternoon usually saw me trudging •mmtryward, hunting the picturesque u a hungry sportsman hunts game. On a certain day, whep I had farther into the rural districts than usual, an obliging farmer’s wife, (whom I had just “taken” in the act of working a wcllsweep, observed: “You ougfht to go up to the old Tarkington Place, miss, if it’s a real sightly ■pot you’re after; there ain’t another ■ueb lookout for miles around. You keep right on past the bridge/’ and she proceeded with directions of a bewildering prolixity. “Who lives there?” I asked. “Nobody lives there, and hasn’t for ten years. Old man Tarkington, he Uvea.” and here followed still more puzzling directions. “Come to think, you’d better get leave of him before you go; lie’s dreadful queer. They do •ay the house is haunted," she called out as I closed the gate. Now, next to a “view,” I ioved an adventure, and this queer Mr. Tarkington ■nd the hypothetical ghost seemed a combination too good to be lost. In half an hour I had found the old man ■nd obtained the desired permission, tinder promise of sending him two of the photographs, if they proved good, a matter that he, and not I, treated as •pen to doubt. Shouldering my tripod, 1 climbed the long hiU by a road evidently little disturbed by travel, and in due time came in sight of an overgrown yard and a large solitary mansion. Whose air of chilly desertion told me immediately that it was the Turkington Place. The house was a peculiar one, of painted brick, with a hopper roof, and there tfas something indefinably gloomy and weird in its aspect, although the front received the full rays of the western sun. Everything spoke of neglect and abandonment; there

THEY DO SAY THE HOUSE IS HAUNTED.

■were no blinds or even I wards at the windows, and the side pillass of the oldfashioned porch were held up only by the folds of a gigantic honeysuckle. Hastily choosing a favorable point •f view and adjusting my camera. I secured a negative on one of my finest plates, and, overcome by a mysterious feeling of awe, .Mithout waiting for further exploratwri, made the best of my way home. That evening I developed my pictures. Probably many of you know what it is to sit in the faint glow of the ruby lantern and watch some coveted image as it starts out bit by bit from a surface as blank as an egg. For tuy part, 1 confess it excites me, and J felt a thrill of more than ordinary eagerriess as I poured the chemicals over the Turkington plate. First the sky “came up,” as we say, a dark shadow; then the house, the porch and a bit of foreground and foliage, the various details showing niore and more vividly as I rocked the tray from side to side. I was just congratulating myself on haring captured a prize, when my attention was fixed by a peculiar appearance alxiut one of the upper windows. It looked like a sac surely—n woman's face, and my heart began to beat suffocatingly as an unmistakable. though shadowy, figure deflned Itself behind the fincurtalned panes. Somehow, at the moment; I did not think of a natural explanation; it was the picture of a ghost, an Intangible being, invisible to a normal eye. but mysteriously patent to the sensitized Ihb. I recalled exactly how that window had looked, glassy and lifeless, .■without n sign of occupancy. Was it Cssible that the plate had been used fore.? Certain forfuer experiences made the suggestion pertinent; but no, the negative was a brilliant one, perfect In ewery particular; there was clearly nothing wrong on the technical •ide. ' Observing the Image carefully, I ■otod that the eyes were not turned to the spot where I had stood, but were gazing out on the landscape, while the whole attitude, I fancied, was that of a troubled sjjlrit revisiting earthly > denies. 1 thought 'D f old Mr. Turkington, and jtow be was’Vepated “questshould I •bow him what I had unwittingly hroiufht to light? Agltgted bud be

wlldered by an occurrence so strange, I finally put up my apparatus and went to'bed. ———: The nexAday, fortunately, was Saturday, and as soon after sunrise as possible I had my wonderful negative in the printing frame. The character of the face Came out clearly in the resulting impression, especially when I studied it qnder a pocket microscope. It was a face that might have belonged to a woman of 30, handsome but emaciated, with melancholy dark eyes. In short. It was just the head that a painter would have chosen for the casement of a haunted house. A night’s rest, however, had steadied my norvies and revived my adventurpus spirit, and I determined that the least I could do was to submit the enigma to the owner of Turkington Place. Mr. Turkington, when I found him. was at Work in his yard. He greeted me pleasantly, but with obvious surprise at my early appearance, and by this time my unmanageable heart was beating so hard that I could only stammer. “I brought your photograph, sir,” and stretch forth the blue print. tie took it, very slowlyadjusting his held it off, and began vague-, ly to scrutinize it, after the’manner of one unaccustomed to pictures. Suddenly the color rushed into his face.

LIKE ONE STUNNED FOR A TIME.

He raised a long shaking forefinger and pointed close to the telltale win-" dow, saying with awful deliberatness: ..‘‘What does that mean?” “I do not know, sir,” I responded, firmly, meeting his eye and finding my voice again. “I understood that the house was empty and I saw no one there, but when I developed—that is—when I looked at my picture, you know, after I got home, I noticed that there seemed to be a woman inside.” He remained like one stunned for some time. At last he asked: “Do you know who it is?” “No. sir: do you?” I rejoined, quickly, with Involuntary curiosity. “Yes. it’s my darter Esthei’ - , who—” I thought he was going to say died? but instead he said —“left me more than ten years ago. “ I didn't even know whether she was alive,” he murmured, still gazing as if he expected the little wraith-like picture face to open its lips and speak. "Bat are you sure that this is not an itlusion of some kind?” 1 ventured, after another pause. "Illusion!” answered the old man. with an angry start. “How do you mean illusiori? Isn’t it as plain as day?” "It seems so there, certainly, but I assure you, str, that I was as near to the house as we are to the garden' yonder. and looked at it most particularly, and there wasn’t a soul there, at least there wasn’t anybody to be seen.” "Did' you keep you eye on the hous« while you were taking the picter?” he asked. I considered, and now remembered that after uncapping the lens I had kept my eye on the my watch during the exposure—a matter of four or live seconds. I said so.

"Then she must have come to the window about that time,” replied Mr. Turkington, quietly. “Caught sight of you, mebbe, and started back.;- Tire figger's faintish, you sec.” A light broke in on me, and I began to fear that I was to be balked of my ghost. “I must go up there, of course,” said ho. “There's no time to be lost." “O, may I go with you?" I cried. “Please let me—l’m so much interested!” “Yes—yes, come along. I kin make you useful, perhaps,. But j'tut them foolish notions out o' your mind.” By degrees, as we climbed the hill, the little tragic history of discord and, a long-standing grievance came out. "She was a fiery, high-spirited girl, was Esther, though so pretty-looking, aud always gay in her ways; and after her mother died we had words, and site left home. I was fiery myself, and mebbe unreasonable at times. She went amongst friends, and I kept thinking we’d make it up. aud I’d get her back again; but I put it off and two years went by. “Well, one day there camo a letter from her saying she was going to be married next week to an Italian as liad a shop to sell Aggers. That was just a little too much, expecting all along to

RECOGNIZED THE FACE IN AN INSTAN

do well by her, as I was. I writ aud said she could choose betwixt him and me; I didn’t wish no son-in-law. least of all an Italian, and if she wa'n't back in less'n a fortnight, she needn’t ever show herself here again.” Sorrow and obstinacy, resentment and tenderness, struggled in the old man’s face; I understood now why the neighbor considered him “queer.” » “She didn’t come I —of course; and I won’t say I haven’t made some inquiries since I cooled down, but they moved and moved again, till I lost track o’ them altogether—lt’s eight years come May.” By this time we had reached the house, and Mr. Turkington took out a rusty key and let me In at the front door. There was some little furniture, a few carpets aud a kitchen stove; but

these signs of farmer comfort seemed to increase the dreariness of the t'omh-dike-alr and the-echoing. damp-stained walls. An eerie feeling crept me as I peeped Int® one room after another, untebanted except by spiders- dnd wasps. ' 1 We mounted the stairs„tind a look of Irrepressible\disappointment deepened the- lines in the old man’s face as be entered'“Estlier’s chamber” and found it quite empty,: forsaken and mournful like all the rest. “I am afraid, sir, that you will have to give up the search,” I said. But the old man crossed to the window, and looking down, uttOred a sudden exclamination. In the'thick dust that covered the window-sill lay the unmistakable prints of a woman’s fingertips. “Call that a ghost, do you?” he asked, with an odd, tremulous elation; and his eye kindled. Descending to the kitchen, he opened the stove and thrust in his hand. The as lies there were still warm—there' were live sparks among them. “Depend upon it She was here no later than this morning—got in through the back kitchen window, most likely, and spent the night here. She-can’t .have gone far, and I’ll be up with her within twenty-four hours. She must ha’ felt a hankerin’ to have a sight o* the old place. Toor girl, if she looks like that picter o’ yours she’s had trouble enough.” At the fobt of the hill we parted—he to make a house-to-house pilgrimage in search of his daughter, I to hasten back to the school with my head full of romance. As I entered the yard, one of the girls came dying out .to meet me. „ , • . “Quick, Lu,” she cried, “get your camera! We have such a picturesque subject for you, around by the servants' entrance. We inveigled herein, and have all been wasting our pocket money on shoestrings and .impossible letter paper, on purpose to keep her for you. Quick! Don’t wait to take off your hat!” A woman with a little gay-colored shawl’pinned over her head, after the fashion of Italian street-venders, sdt patiently on ; while .tire kindhearted girls were fast emptying the two valises that lay open beside her. The black braids were hidden now; exposure and weariness were stamped on the features. But I recognized the face in an instant—it was Mr. Tarkington’s Esther. —Utica Globe.

Recreation Before Bedtime.

Want of sleep is engendered to a great extent by the overactivity of the brain at night. Many people say that night is their best time for work, and thus, spend the early part of the day, when the brain is freshest, in idleness, and at night do their work. Working their brain Until just before retiring to bed is with many utterly fatal to a thorough rest. The overwrought and tiyed brain cannot throw off the thoughts caused by the work, and on laying down in bed they return with what apjA'ars to be greater intensity, and thus sleep is bfinished. It is a very good plan to stop brain work at a fixed hour before retiring, and then to indulge in sopie recreation in the way of games or jfght reading, such as newspapers, periodicals, novels. etc. , The way-to avoid illness in your home is by practicing care, caution and cleanliness. These are the important and necessary factors for successful life. Recollect that there are two words that must be unknown to us, and they are trouble and fatigue. We must hound them out from our vocabulary, , for they are impossible words in a wellregulated household. Of course the mother must not lie in bed of a morning; she must be up and about, quick, active and alert. She should recollect that children are never consulted as to whether they should lie warm or not, so that it is only a debt owing them if we make their lives as healthy and happy as possible, and this desideratum cannot be achieved unless we are content to sacrifice some of our pleasures.

Kant's Windlasses.

Kant, the German metaphysician, was a singular being. The English writer, Thomas d’e Quiueey, made close observation of Kant’s personal peculiarities, and frequently dwelt upon one of them with intense-amusement. Kant, among other‘Studies in the art ottaking care of himself, avoided ordinary garters. He permitted no ligature to be placed on any part of his body, fearing to liindeFlu the slightest degree the circulation of the mood. He found it necessary st the same -time to keep up his stockings, Accordingly lie had loops attached to them, and outside each hip he wore a contrivance which may be called a box windlass. These affairs somewhat resembled an angler's reel with a spring, which secured the line at any given point. Behold Kant then expounding his philosophy to a select circle of disciples. Like the famous counsel who could not state his arguments without twisting a bit of twinq, Kant worked the windlasses as he talked. The idea of this grotesque fancy so tickled De Qujncey.that be often lingered on the odd sight it must have been to observe.the master "paying oul the cable" or hauling in “the slack" by aid of this curious machinery!

Afflicted Car Conductors.

A glance at the -eyes of many of the Baltimore street car conductors shows that something is the matter. The eyes are red about the edges of the lids aud are sometimes Inflamed. One of the conductors said: “The trouble Is limited to conductors of open cars, and is caused by the long brass handles at the end of each row of seats, which a conductor is compelled to grasp frequently as he walks along the footboard. After a time the perspiration from the hand becomes coated with verdigris. If the conductor puts his hand to his face he Is apt to get the verdigris In his eyes. This causes inflammation, and the trouble grows worse if not properly attended to.” . .„

Old Time Notices.

Papyrus leaves more than three thousand -years old have been found at Thebes, describing runaway slav« s and offering a reward for their capture, and at Pompeii' ancient advertisements have been deciphered on the walls. Thero is another reason why men arc glad lliey are not women: women have tu behave «t ivdl.

WOMAN AND THE WHEEL.

IF you a re. a woman it is your_ bounden duty to call down blessings upon the head of him who first made a wheel which a woman could ride. It was a great day—a white day* for the sex! and the race when woman mastered the graceful art of riding; for by the wheel she has reached many things most desirable. From the makers and sellers of wheels, comes the good news that th? out-put of wheels for women this year will be not only greatly in excess of any past year, but' more wheels for women will be made than for men. The news is good news, because of its cheering significance, It means that many women will be more in the open air and sunshine than ever in their lives; it means that their flabby muscles will grow firm and strong, their eyes bright and quick, that their cheeks will lose their sickly cast, and will glow with life—in short, that the thousands of women who ride will become healthy creatures in mind and body. And every improvement thus made In personal health, means a corresponding gain in public health, so that we are all bettor for every ’-■heel sold to a woman.—Womankind. In these days of announcing engagements, calls of. congratulation are expected, as also after the marriage has taken place if you have received tile wedding cards; if not. Jt is to be understood the young couple do not wish to

ORNAMENTS FOR EVENING COIFFURES.

Fashion has decreed that evening coiffures shall not appear without ornaments. Consequently the up-to-date woman’s hair is never seen without a decoration of some kind. Coiffures have not fdr years been so elaborate, and they can reasonably demand beautiful combs and pins of all descriptions. Little, soft, bobbing curls are universally worn, and they are held in place by a diamond or jeweled side-comb or pin. The hair ism uch waved bn tire sides in deep, undulating ripples, and the contour of the head is often improved by a light, delicately wrought gold comb, which holds the hair closer to the head. Many fair women with well modeled brows indulge, in the simple aud elegant pompadour cbiffure. leaving only a very slight curl on each side of the forehead The hair in such cases is arranged in a simple knot at the crown

continue your acquaintance. One busy woman makes it a matter of principle to call once, leaving her own card and her husband's, on eVery one who Sends her wedding cards. Very likely she never has time to go again, but she says If they send hoi cards, etiquette demands she shall make some acknowledgment.

Tea Worse than Coffee.

Tea-drinking is coming under the severe lash of the medical profession, and a physician in an article in a recent monthly says that tea worship, carried on by fair devotees in the prettiesf drawing-rooms, in the smartest of teagowns, witli the daintiest of silver and china,.may to a large extent disarm them as to the real nature,of this insidious but implacable fiend. He further says the evil effects of the tannin In tea are readily seen by Its ravages on the throats and stomachs of tea tasters. It is well known that dyspepsia is often caused and increased by tea prinking; it is harmful in two ways. Neither should it be taken by those suffering fj-om varieties of heart affection or by those having a feeble circulation. Mental depression and extremes of melancholia, the doctor also attributes to tea drinking, and even suicidal monomania.

A Hnncinc Pin Cushion.

Take a piece of ordinary fire wood, scrape away its sharp edges and with the aid of a pocket inake it as round" as possible. This , done, cover with a thiyk layer of wadding, and over this again lay silk, satin, or brocade. Stitch firmly and neatly at the back and fasten off at each end with bows of ribbon. IF preferred, two different* colored.lengths of ribbon may be used instead of piece silk for covering the wadding, in -which case these must be irranged alternately, as Illustrated, and 3nally tied into bows at either end. Now make a three-cornered pocket by cutting a piece of cardboard to shape

FOR WOMEN AND HOME

and arranging in front of L it fluted silk. This must tie sewn to the cardboard, on either side, blit left open in front, as here clearly shown. Thp cardboard itself should be plainly covered with sateen and sewn along the top of the round cushion, as sketched. The front edge or flap of the pocket <pay be fin-

FOR HAT PINS.

ished by a line of brightly colored ball fringe, or by a few pompons, set three together at intervals along the top. A bow of ribbon matching that used on the pin cushion must be placed at the bottom point of the pocket; also at the back-of the. roll cushion two little cyeli’ts. by which to suspend it, must be arranged. This makes a very useful and pretty item for hanging above a dressing table or toilet mirror. Victoria’s Favorite Books. All through her life,-although it has *

of the head. From it hangs two or three curls. The knot is much improved by a high comb of either gold, shell or diamonds. Puffs and fluffy locks are banked in front of the long, band-shaped shell combs, stick as our great-great-grandmothers embellished their heads with. .Spanish combs elaborately carved are a* feature of the hour. Arch maidens nestle waving aigrettes tied with smart colored satin bows on the left side of their becurled dresses. Aigrettes are also arranged .with bunches of violets, roses, ‘Tagged sailors” and forget-me-nots. Flowers and ribbons are as well grouped with perky lace butterflies. The diamond star continues to be a favorite ornament, and they glisten oh the heads of many smart women at all evening functions.

been a busy one; the Queen has. says a contemporary, been a groat reader. There is hardly any bobk of note that has'iiot passed through tier hands. During her majesty’s reign she has made a collection of about 80,000 volumes, kept under, charge of a librarian and two assistants at 'Windsor. Lord ..Beaconsfield’s novels ami Lord Tennyson’s poems, with Charles Dickens’ works, have for years constituted het majesty’s favorite reading.

Vinner Gown for Summer.

For Athletic Women.

The newest sweater is made with a V-shaped yoke, which Is with little knots of the wool. The sleeves are decidedly puffed, though it is said that before long the sweater Is to discard entirely this frill of fashion, and that the sleeves in sweaters for both men and women are to be made alike- small.

WANTED THE USUAL FEE.

Witness Would Not Interpret Chinook to Pl'feasA the Lawyer. A good story was told lately of Com*modore March* of March’s Point, Fidalgo Island, whose ready wit is Well known to the habitues of the Hotel Butler; all over the Sound. The Commodore was called as a witness in the Point Roberts dispute between the cannery meh and the Indians, and the lawyer on the other side, with a “what-ean-you-know-about-itair,” put the question to him: > “How long have you been in this part of the country, Mr. March?” Mr. March has a pretty chin, and be shaves his white whiskers to each side to show it off. When the question was so suddenly put, he softly caressed the pretty chin and slowly and meditatively said, as to himself: “Forty, forty-five, fifty,” and at length answered: “Fifty-five years.” • “Fifty-five years!” said the lawyer, and then, as if he were addressing Christopher Columbus, asked: “And what did you discover, Mr. March?’’ “A dark-visaged savage.” “A dark-visaged savage, eh? Yes; and what did you say to him?” ’“I said it was a fine day.” “Fine day?, Yes, and what did he say to you?” Mr. March rattled off a whole yarn in Chinook, and kept on, to the mirth of the whole courtroom, until peremp-torily-cut off by the gavel of the Judge. “I asked you what reply the savage made to you, Mr. March. Please answer the question,” said the irate crossexaminer. “I was answering.” “Tell us wliat the savage said.” “That was what he said.” ‘Then tell it to us in English.” “Not unless I am commissioned 'by the Court tp act as interpreter and paid the customary fee.” The lawyer thought a moment, looked at the Judge, who could not resist a smile, and said severely, “Mr. March, you may stand down.”—Seattle Post Intelligencer.

The Kickaway Boat.

u^fkißg-^amoag---JJm —many., glimpses of Chinese people, places, and customs given by Julian, Ralph in a recent article in Harper’s, is perhaps his description of the passing of a Chinese passenger-vessel worked by man-pow-er through the agency of a treadmill. This extraordinary craft went by at night, close enough to afford the American observer an excellent opportunity for observation. “It Came throbbing and drumming up to and beyond us,” he writes, “a great yellow box on a low, broad hull. Huge beams of yellow lamplight shot out of its many square windows upon the murky water beside it. “Through the windows we saw the coolie passengers lying on bed-slielvea. and next beyond them the long-coated gentry in round, button-topped skullcaps, smirking and gambling and lounging abdut. And then came a fair third of the broad boat, open at the sides, lighted by a Smoky lamp, and filled with the ghost-like figures of many men, all walking, walking, walking, add yet standing in one place, as they clambered incessantly upon a treadmill that worked a great naked stern paddle-wheel, toward which they walked, yet which they never reached. "The trunks of the spectral men dripped .with perspiration. The feeble rays of the lamp were caught upon their sweating sides and shoulders, and reflected back. And when,two or three turned their heads to look at our boat, the lij*ht leaped into their eyes, and made them eoals of fire. "There were twelve or fifteen men on the treadmill, though there might have been fifty, or none at all, but In their place a shapeless monster, all heads and legs and shadows, prisoned in a dark cell, and condemned to walk without rest to Soochow and back, and back again forever.” The appearance of this strange boat was, to the American writer and the artist accompanying him, something frightful, and tluqtoil of the tread-mill men a thing to shudder at; but to the Chinese passengers it seems quite natural and simple, as indeed no doubt it is, The coolies who kick these “klckaway boats.” as they are called, over tlieiit folftF'knve’certainly a hard task; but it is a question if it is harder, or as hard, as that of the stokers in the terrible hot depths of an ocean-going steamship, and if they are not, according to the standard of their country, equally well paid.

Paradise for Tramps.

A correspondent says that Australia is a paradise for tramps. They comprise about one-quarter of the population, and spend their life in traveling from one little colony or station, as It is called, to another. The name sundowner is applied to them for theweason that the sun’s setting is a signal for their coming. The stations being so far apart—twenty or thirty miles, or even more—the people have not the heart to send them adrift to the bush to go hungry for the night, and they are recognized as a necessary evil. The well-to-do farmers have usually a “traveler’s hut,” and regular rations are served out to these wayfarers, a pound of the inevitable milttod, a pannikin or dipper of flour, the water bag refilled and a bunk for the night.— Chicago Chronicle.

Some Idiot Archdukes.

Bismarck's epithet, “Austria’s Idiot archduke,” seems not undeserved, Carl Ludwig, Apparently Austria's future emperor, is so parsimonious that he allows his cook only 2 florins (92 cents) a day for each member of his household, and on this the cook must provide four meals a day. Ills daughter-in-law, wife of Archduke Otto, pays her board from her husband's allowance when she visits him. Carl Ludwig is also fond of embroidering beautiful vestments for his clergy. Ills younger brother, Ludwig Victor, is a confirmed woman hater.—lndianapolis News.

Australian Rabbit Plague.

Australia has found it Impossible to abate the rabbit plague. In New South Wales alone, 7,000,000 acres of land have been abandoned—£l,ooo,ooo has been spent—and the only plan that hasnny good effect is wire netting, and of this 15,000 miles have been used. No girl with a pretty mowtli should ever say, “I Just sassed him right back.”

Loon. ,| f ,• - Lone dweller by the lonelyilakc '.' '• Remote among our northern hills. Round wooded shores thyloud cries wake The sleeping echoes, rudely break ( The singing of the rills. -Thou hast the storm a welcome guest—At thy home by the water’s edge, The waves may plash about thy breast, Hay, playful, lift and rock thy nest Built on the reedy sedge. Thou art a ruler in good right, Strong master of all winds that blow; Thy wings outstrip the Storm-clouds quite. Thy swimming is the swallow’s flight , Seen in the depths below. Thou sittest with a sovereign grace J The broken waters of the pond, >' And, quicker than the eye can trace, J Hast shifted to another plAce J A good half-mile beyond. li Ah! said those loud, demohiac cries Borne on the startled listening air, ' As if from nether world did rise I ■ HtL^onX-tcLeartlLand skies ! ' a| An outburst of despair. ; * ■ - ' ; , -' Proud is thy mate, as side ,> Ye cleave the air with whizzing wing; Your brood that paiiently-ablda. ' At home, rejoice, yqur forma descried, ” Those wild notes heard to ring. —lsaac Bassett Choate, in New York Home Journal.

Which Are You? There "are two kinds of people on earth ■ * to-day. Just two kinds of people; to more, I say; Not the humble and proud, for in life’s little span, Who puts pn vain airs is not counted a man. ~ . ■ Not the happy aql sad, for the swift flying years .*? Bring each man his laughter 1 , and each man Ips tears. , No; the two kinds of people on earth I mean. Are the people who lift and the peoplewho lean. Wherever you go, you will find th* world's masses Are always divided in just these two clashes. And, oddly* enough, you will find, too, I ween,- ' There is only, one lifter, to twenty who ~ - lean'. In which class are you? Arc you easing the load Of overtaxed lifters who toil down the road ? Or are yon a loaner, who lets others bear Your portion of labor and worty and caret —Ella Wheeler Wilcox.

To My Harp. Thy sweet, clear notes arc hoard no mors And hushed the strains I loved so well. Companion of my lonely hours, Thy silvery chords have bid farewell. Still fond remembrance clings to thee, And thought flies back to happier days. When near to thee were those dear friends Who loved to list to thy sweet lays. A valued relic of the past, I oft’ times sit and view thee still. And think of those who taught me first Thy soft, melodious notes to fill. A grateful messenger of love, Friendship's off’ring, ever d&tT, Thou still reeallest that glad hour That I remember with a tear. A gentle hand, too, joined my own. To rob thee of some merry sjrain. Alas! that gentle hand no more Will strike those joyous chords again. Fnr, far nway my native home, Where dwelt the cherished of my heart. Sweet lyre, thou bring’st them back to ma. From thee affectiSn ne’er can part. Methinks at night when all things sleep. Thy music wafts my dreams on high. Entrancing every sense with joy Like some aeolian melody. But silent now thy soothing tone. And snapped the strings I loved so weDj Thy requiem floats upon the breeze, Thy silvery chord's hath bid farewell. —C. A. Carval.

At the T>oor. I thought myself indeed secure, 1 ' v So fast the door, So firm the lock; But, lo! he toddling comes to lure My parent ear with timorous knock. |- My heart wore, stone <?at|ld it , Withstand The sweetness of my baby's plea— That timorous, baby knocking and “Please let mg in—it’s only me." I threw aside the unfinished book, Regardless of its tempting charing, And. opening wide I took I My laughing darling in my arms. Who knows but in Eternity, • ' I, like a truant child, sfiall wait The glories of a life to be, Beyond the Heavenly Father’s gate? And will that Heavenly Father heed The truant’s supplicating cry, As at the outer door 1 plead, lA j> “ 'Tis I, O Father! only I?” —Eugene Field.

A Valuable Find.

A dispatch from Constantinople says that an ancient and beautiful manuscript copy of the gospel, dating back to the sixth century, was recently found in Asia Minor. It Is written on the finest and thinpest of vellum, which is dyed purple. Tho letters are silver, the abbreviations and sacred names, which are gold. Representatives of English and Americari universities have unsuccessfully sought to obtain possession of the precious MSS., it having been secured by Russia.

What a Boa Constrictor Can Do.

The boa constrictor is capable of swallowing deer, calves or men whole. It first catches its prey by hanging from the branch of a tree near tho place where the animals are npeustomed to go to water, and since it has no poisonoua fangs it kills its prey by pressure.